Master container filling machine



SEAROH .300!

BEST AVAlLABLE COPY May 26, 1970 L. D. Aocox MASTER CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE .4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1968 x .TO W W W a P L m Rm B Q 2 9 A W ATTORNEY EST AVAILABL C P May 26, 1970 1.. D. ADCOX 3,513,

MASTER CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1968 .4 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 8 Q 9 k 9 i a 1 4+- 1: F 2 l a-r3 INVENTOR. L. D. Adcox EA &.

A fro/m5 Y BEST AVNLABLE COPY May 26, 1970 o. Aocox 3,513,6

. ASTER CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1968 .4 Sheets-Sheet s x r 1 7 50 62 v w I I ml 44 4 80 I 47 I 2a 57 7/ 79 4a 54 55 7 77 75 so 5 52 09 j 72 Min 53x; illhin 74 Fig. 3

INVENTOR. L D. Adcox ATTOR/VEX Ma 26 1910 a 513 624 Y BEST AVAILABLE COPY MASTER CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1968 .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. L. D. Adcox m .WJ

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,513,624 MASTER CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE L. D. Adcox, Monte Vista, Colo., assignor of one-half to John B. Milne, Monte Vista, Colo. Filed Apr. 15, 1968, Ser. No. 721,476 Int. Cl. B65b 57/14, 5/06; B65g 47/42 US. CI. 53-62 20 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for filling a master container with a plurality of previously filled packages by automatically moving the packages individually or in pairs through passageways and filling spouts constructed to avoid imposing resistance on the packages in their passage to and into the master container. The individual packages may be regular or irregular in contour. Means are provided for speedily handling individual packages instead of accumulating them into heavier and larger units before placement in the master container. The construction permits the use of relatively light power-producing mechanisms not heretofore practical for machines designed for placing accumulated units into a master container. The machine is speedy and compact and portable by manual movement on rollers or casters.

This invention relates to a machine for filling a master container with previously packaged materials which may vary as to weight and contour of the packages. The number of packages to be placed ina master container also may vary. The machine is especially adapted for placing ten 5 lb. sacks or five lb. sacks of produce in a 50 lb. master container, but the number of sacks and the weights of the individual packages may vary, as may the contents of the sacks which may be potatoes, beans, and other commodities.

The main object of the invention is to provide a compact, relatively light, manually portable machine which is capable of filling master containers at high speed. Portable is used herein in the sense that the machine can be moved manually on rollers or casters over a floor or supporting surface. Many produce packaging plants are housed in buildings not initially designed for their present use, with the result that space is limited and usually not suitably proportioned to house the large, heavy packing machines now in use. The large size and Weight of prior art machines which accumulate the individual units to the weight intended to be placed in the master container, has resulted from the necessary use of hydraulic power systems employed for operating them. The large size and weight of the prior art machines has made them non-portable as distinguished from the machine of this invention which can be moved manually to convenient locations in the packaging plant as required. The reduction in size and weight is made possible by the use of air power to actuate the material-moving mechanism, and ability to use such air power in place of much heavier and cumbersome hydraulic power of the prior art is due to the construction herein shown and described.

I have found by experimentation that the resistance encountered by packagedmaterials in their travel and movement through a machine into a master container is an important factor, indeed more important than the weight of the material itself, in determining the amount and nature of the power required to move the materials into a master container. This resistance varies according to the form and dimensions of the passageways through which the packages travel, and also according to the regularity or irregularity of contour of the packages, increasing substantially with greater irregularity. For example,

BEST AVAILABLE COPY Patented May 26, 1970 ice potatoes packaged in conventional five or ten pound sacks of mesh materials present very irregular external contours. The machine of this invention is designed to handle both irregularly contoured packages and the more regular smooth surfaced packages of various kinds of materials without subjecting either of them to the resistance to free movement which has been encountered in prior art machines, and which has necessitated the use of more powerful and heavier hydraulically powered actuating mechanisms. This novel and much desired result has been achieved by the machine of my invention which is provided with means for handling individually the several packages which are to be placed in a master container, and by eliminating resistance-producing passageways in the machine. By handling the previously packaged goods individually, in my machine, the master container can be filled more economically and quickly than when packages are accumulated and moved as a unit into a master container.

Another important feature of the invention is the construction of the spouts through which the packaged material passes into the master container. A number of spouts, three for example, are mounted on a rotatable turret. The master container is placed over the outlet end of a spout for reception of the packaged goods which are fed into the spout from the opposite intake end. Each spout comprises two duck-bill members, one of which is hingedly mounted on the other near the intake end. When a spout is in the uppermost position by rotation of the turret, the hinged member is above the fixedly mounted member, and automatically falls toward said fixed member so that the outlet end of the spout is smaller in diameter than the inlet end. This facilitates manual placement of the master container on the outlet end of the spout. When the spout with the master container thereon has been moved downwardly by rotation of the turret, into filling position, the hinged member automatically falls away from the fixed member by pivotal movement and thus widens the outlet end of the spout to engage the inside of the master container and hold it in spread condition for reception of the packaged goods and for resistance-free passage of the packages into the master container.

Another novel feature of the invention is the means by which two smaller packages may be handled as one larger package in the process of placing packages in the master container. For example, potatoes are sold at retail in five or ten pound sacks; sometimes in four or eight pound packages. The machine may be adjusted to automatically place ten 5 lb. sacks or five 10 lb. sacks in a master container designed to hold fifty pounds. When 5 lb. sacks are being handled, two such individual packages are automatically passed into the delivery spouts at one time, instead of one 10 lb. sack. A counter is provided which can be adjusted to determine the number of packages to be placed in the master container. Thus the machine is flexible in that it can automatically deliver to the master container different sized packages to fill a master container with a predetermined weight of material.

Another object is to provide pusher means for moving the packaged goods without formation of vacuum which would impede the free movement and release of the packages from the pushing means.

Another novel feature is the contour of the walls of the charging chamber adjacent the entrance to the spout through which the packaged materials pass into the master container.

In the travel of the individual units on conveyors, gravity is utilized to convey the units into a charging chamber. Thereafter, the travel of the packages is through passageways designed to avoid resistance producing con- BEST AVAlLABLE COPY tact with the packages. The contact is limited to the supporting surfaces on which the packages rest; resistanceproducing contact between the packages and the side or top walls of passageways is avoided. After the master container has been filled, it is pushed sidewise onto a pivotally mounted platform which is automatically moved together with the filled master container to an upright position for holding the master container adjacent a sewing head with the open end of the container up for receiving a horizontal row of stitches.

The aforementioned and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the drawings and following description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of a master container filling machine embodying my invention.

FIG. 2 is atop plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view in the plane of the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, in the plane of the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing details of the turret rotation lock plate, in the plane of the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing details of the turret rotation mechanism, in the plane of the line 66 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing the sewing machine guide belts and drive mechanism therefor for guiding the filled master container during the sewing operation.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the charging chamber wall adjacent one of the filling spouts, showing the contoured opening in the wall communicating with the spout.

Referring to FIG. 1, the master container filling machine comprises a frame 10. supported on rollers or casters 11. An input conveyor support rod 12 is connected to the frame at one end and to a link 13 which is connected to the shaft 14 of the input conveyor idle roller 15. An input conveyor 16 receives previously filled bags or packages from a drop off plate 17. The input conveyor 16 is trained over the idle roller 15 and a drive roller 18, located in different horizontal planes which cause the conveyor 16 to travel in an upwardly inclined plane as shown in FIG. 1. The drive roller 18 may be rotated by any suitable means such as the motor 19 and gearing shown.

An input cross belt 20 extends at right angles to the input conveyor 16. The belt 20 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It receives previously filled bags 21 from the input conveyor 16 by dropping of the bags to the lower level in which the belt 20 travels on its drive roller 22 and idler 23 (FIG. 2). An upright curved wall 24 defines the area within which the bags 21 may travel on the cross belt 20 where they make a right angle turn in their passage from conveyor 16 to belt 20. This turning action occurs automatically by the fact that the cross belt travels at greater speed than the input conveyor 16. The input cross belt drive roller 22 is actuated by the drive mechanism 25 (FIG. I).

The input conveyor 16 is provided with a shut off gate 26 actuated by an air cylinder 27. A bevel gear drive for the input conveyor drive roller 18 is indicated at 28 for operation by the motor 19 and intermediate gearing. A shut off gate 29 is actuated to move across the input cross belt 20 to prevent passage of the sacks 21 except at predetermined intervals.

The input cross belt 20 carries the sacks 21 to a place adjacent a charging chamber defined by a floor 30, opposite front and rear walls 31, 32, respectively, and side wall 33. Moving of a sack 21 from the input cross belt 20 into the charging chamber is done by a loading plate or pusher mounted on loading plate guide rods 36 actuated by an air cylinder 37. The rods 36 are slidably mounted in bearing tubes 38.

A photo cell 40 actuated by light source 41 (FIG. 2)

controls the mechanism 27 which actuates the input conveyor shut off gate 26. Other photo cells and light sources cooperate to control the operation of the loading plate or pusher 35 which moves the packages off the input cross belt 20 and allows them to fall to the floor 30 of the charging chamber. The photo cell 42 and light source 43 control the moving off the belt of a 10 lb. sack. The photo cells 44, 44, and cooperating light sources 45, 45, control the moving off the belt 20 of two 5 lb. sacks, and both must be blocked before the loading plate 35 can function When one 10 lb. sack or two 5 lb. sacks have been dropped onto the floor 30 of the charging chamber, they are pushed across the charging chamber in a direction parallel to the walls 31, 32, toward the permanent top and end contour plate 46 which is located to permit placement of one sack 21 (for example, a 10 lb. sack) or two smaller sacks (for example, 5 lb. sacks) near the end of the charging chamber opposite the inlet end of a spout described hereinafter. The pushing in the charging chamber of the individual sack or a pair of sacks is done by a contoured plate 47 (FIGS. 2 and 3) mounted on a cross slide support 48 (FIG. 3), on guide rods 49. The shape of the contour plate 47 is designed to prevent formation of vacuum between the plate and the packages 21. The cross slide 48 is actuated by an air cylinder 50 which reciprocates the rack 51 which meshes with spur gear 52. Gear 52 is a four inch gear locked to a common shaft with the nine inch spur gear 53 to actuate the cross slide 48 through rack 54 meshing with spur gear 53. The rack 54 has attached to it a carrier roller 55.

The charging chamber floor 30 is provided with a slot 56 (FIG. 2) to accommodate the traveling contour plate 47. The movement of the plate 47 is controlled by photo beam 57 which actuates the cylinder 50 in the charging chamber. The pushing action of the contour plate 47 from left to right of FIG. 3 on the floor 30 of the charging chamber moves the individual units such as a 10 lb. sack, or two 5 lb. sacks, to proper place adjacent the inlet end of a filling spout.

The filling spouts are shown in FIGS. 1-4. Preferably three spouts, designated 60, 61, 62, are mounted on a turret 63 at their intake ends by brackets 64. The spouts are alike, each comprising a stationary duckbill 65 and a movable duckbill 66 which is pivotally mounted at 67 to the part 65. When rotated with the turret 63, the lowermost spout will have its pivotally mounted member 66 located below the fixed part 65, and will be spaced from the fixed member at the outlet end of the spout, as shown in FIG. 1. In that position of the turret, the other two spouts will have the pivotally mounted bill 66 located above the fixed member 65, and by gravity the movable bill 66 will drop toward the fixed part 65 and thereby reduce the space between said members at their outlet ends and thus narrow the opening therebetween. In FIG. 4, the lowermost spout is designated 61, located in filling position, with its intake end opposite the opening 69 in the wall 68 of the charging chamber (FIG. 8). The spouts in the raised positions of spouts 60, 62, in FIG. 4, are ready to have an empty master container 70 placed thereon, preparatory to moving into the filling position of spout 61. When the turret 63 is rotated, and a spout moves into the filling position, the spout members 65 and 66 are automatically spaced apart and the container 70 is spread taut and held on the spout for reception of the packages 21.

The mechanism for moving the individual packages 21 (or pairs of smaller packages 21) out of the charging chamber and into the spout is shown in FIG. 3. It comprises a filling ram face plate 71, with gussets, a common shaft 72 on which are mounted the spur gear 73 and smaller spur gear 74, said gears 73 and 74 being locked to the shaft 72, the shaft being supported between pillow block bearings (not shown), an air cylinder 75 for actuating the steel rack 76, a spur gear 77 on cominon shaft 78, spur gear 79 also mounted on shaft 78, and master container filling ram 80 on the end of which the face plate 71 is mounted.

FIG. shows details of a turret lock plate and means for locking the turret 63 in fixed position during the operation of filling the master container through one of the spouts 60, 61 or 62 when in the filling position of spout 61. FIG. 1 shows the location of the turret locking mechanism. The turret shaft 81 is rotatably mounted in the support 82 and in a rear turret shaft bearing 83.. The turret rotation lock plate 84 is part of the turret 63 and is keyed to the shaft 81. The plate 84 has three notches 85 in its circumferential edge area for reception of a spring loaded lock pin 86 which is slidable aiiially in a lock pin guide 87. The pin 86 is actuated by mechanism in the air cylinder 88 through stem 89.

The, turret rotation mechanism is located at the opposite end of the turret shaft 81. Referring to FIG. 6, it comprises a ratchet plate 90 locked to the turret shaft 81, ratchet pawl 91 locked to spur gear 92, pawl pin 93, and rack 94 with teeth meshing with spur gear 92, the rack being actuated by the mechanism in air cylinder 95. In FIG. 1, the turret rotation mechanism on shaft 81 is designated 96, as a whole, supported with the shaft on an'arm 97.

All the air cylinders described herein are suitably supplied through a source of compressed air (not shown).

The. operation of moving the packages 21 through a spout in the filling position of spout 61 into the master container 70 causes the container and contents to move away from the outlet end of the spout to the area indicated in broken lines 98 in FIG. 2. In this position the filled master container 70 is free of the spout and ready to be moved to a stand-up shelf 100 which is in horizontal position for reception of the filled container 70 and is movable to an upright position by pivotal movement aboutfthe pivot 101. The filled master container 70 is moved" to the shelf 100 by a take-away bar 102, slidable in slots 102', connected to guide rods 103. The take-away bar 102 is actuated by mechanism in the air cylinder After the filled master container 70 has been moved by thetake-away bar 102 to the shelf 100, the latter is moved to upright position by an air drive cylinder 105, preparatorytodelivering the upright filled container 70 to 'a conveyor belt 106 for a sewing operation (FIG. 1). An upright guide plate 107 guides the container toward a sewing head 108 powered by a motor 109, and supported on a standard 110. The sewing needle is indicated' at 111 for stitching across the upper end of the filled container in a horizontal plane.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the open top filled master container 70 on belt 106 approaches the sewing head between a pair of endless V-belts 112 trained over sheaves 113 and idler pulleys 114. The sheaves are integral with meshing spur gears 115. One of the sheaves an'd spur gears is driven by a belt 116 and motor. 117. A pair of adjustable idler pulleys 118 engages the belts 112 and holds them under proper tension.

The operation of the master container filling machine may be summarized as follows:

Previously filled bags or packages 21 are delivered to the input conveyor 16 from which they drop by gravity, about four inches, to the input cross belt which travels at right angles to conveyor 16 and at a higher speed. This results in turning the sacks 21 so they rest on the belt 20 with their major dimension extending longitudinally of the belt and the packages in generally longitudinal alignment. The arrangement of the conveyor 16 and cross belt 20 at right angles to each other not only facilitates the longitudinal alignment of the bags 21, but it also makes the machine as a whole very compact and results in small floor space need for the machine. The shut off gate 26 between the conveyor 16 and cross BEST AVAILABLE COPY belt 20 controls the passage of the individual packages 21.

The moving of the units 21 off the belt 20 and into a charging chamber is done automatically by the loading plate or pusher 35 which is actuated by photo cells and associated light sources. The plate 35 pushes the units 21 to the side edge of the belt 20, causing them to fall by gravity about nine inches to the floor of the charging chamber. The photo cells and light sources are located so that one cell 42 and light 43 cause the loading plate 35 to function when a package such as a 10 lb. sack blocks the light beam; and two cells 44 and light sources 45 cause the loading plate 35 to function when two smaller packages such as 5 lb. sacks block the two light beams, both of which must be blocked to make the plate 35 function. The mechanism can be adjusted as required when prefilled packages of certain weight are being run. The gate 29 automatically controls the movement of one or a pair of packages 21 from belt 20.

When a package (or pair) 21 has been deposited on the charging chamber floor 30, it is automatically pushed by contour plate 47 to an area opposite the intake end of a filling spout such as the one shown at 61 in filling position. This plate is dependably releasable due to its special cross sectional form which prevents formation of vacuum between plate and package. Before reaching the filling position, an empty master container 70 has been slipped manually over the intake end of the spout while the spout, such as the one indicated at 60 in FIG. 4, has its pivotally mounted duckbill 66 in the uppermost position, automatically reducing the intake opening of the spout. The spouts are mounted at their intake ends on a rotated turret 63 which carries the spouts to the required positions for placement of the master container 70 thereon and for filling the container. The turret rotating means includes the turret shaft 81 and lock means 84-89 as well as actuating mechanism designated -97.

The opening 69 in the charging chamber wall 68 through which packages 21 enter a filling spout is especially contoured to facilitate resistance-free movement of the packages into the spout. This movement is achieved by the ram 80 and ram plate 71 thereon. The ram is automatically timed to function to move individual packages 21 (or a pair of similar smaller packages) located in the charging chamber (FIG. 2) into a filling spout with master container 70 thereon.

The operation of successively moving packages 21 through the filling spout also moves the master container 70 and contents so that when the container has received the predetermined number of packages, it occupies the area 98 and is free of the spout 61. Then the filled container is pushed by a take-away bar 102 onto the stand-up shelf which is pivotally movable from horizontal to vertical position for delivering the upright container 70 and contents to the conveyor 106 which carries the container to the sewing head 108. The pair of belts 112, with the upper end of the master container between them, presses the two sides of the container 70 together for receiving a horizontal line of stitches from needle 111.

The bags or other packages 21 while on conveyor 16 and cross belt 20 are not subjected to any resistanceproducing contacts with machine parts, and very limited power is required to push them to locations where they drop by gravity. In the charging chamber the pushing movement on the fioor of the chamber toward the inlet end of a filling spout is not impeded by contact with side or top walls and the power required to move either one,

individual package or two smaller such packages is relatively small as compared to moving accumulated units to fill the entire master container. Likewise, the entrance to the filling spout is contoured to eliminate resistance. The automatic narrowing of the spout outlet to facilitate placement of the empty master container thereon and the automatic widening of the spout outlet to facilitate resistancefree filling of the container and holding it on the spout preparatory to filling are important improvements.

BEST AVAlLABLE CQPY The flexibility of the machine and its usefulness in the produce handling art is a substantial advantage because the machine is not limited to filling master containers with a single size or type of prefilled bags or packages. A conventional counter (not shown) is used to automatically control the filling of the master container with a predetermined number of packages of appropriate weight.

The entire master container filling operation is accomplished by a series of relatively short movements of individual packages which air-power can perform speedily with compactly arranged elements in a relatively light, manually movable machine.

Changes may be made in the form and arrangement of parts and details of construction without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for automatically filling a master container with a plurality of previously filled packages which may be regular or irregular in contour, comprising:

(a) a conveyor belt which carries individual packages spaced from each other longitudinally of the belt,

(b) a charging chamber located adjacent the conveyor belt,

(c) means automatically moving the packages successively into the charging chamber,

(d) a plurality of spouts having inlet and outlet ends,

(e) a rotatable support on which the spouts are mounted and rotated about the axis of the support,

(f) air powered means automatically moving the packages successively in the charging chamber to the inlet end of a spout,

(g) a master container covering the outlet portion of a spout,

(h) air powered means which push the packages successively into and through a spout and into the master container, (i) a pivotally mounted shelf adjacent the filled master container,

(j) air powered means which move the filled master container onto the pivotally mounted shelf, and

(k) means automatically pivotally moving the shelf and filled master container to upright position.

2. The machine defined by claim 1, in which the charging chamber is located adjacent one side edge of the conveyor belt, and the means automatically causing the packages to move successively into the charging chamber is an air powered pusher plate which pushes a package across the belt to fall by gravity into the charging chamber.

3. The machine defined by claim 2 in which the pusher plate which causes the packages to move successively into the charging chamber is controlled by a cooperating photo cell and light source blocked by an individual package on the belt, and by a pair of spaced apart photo cells and associated light sources both of which are blocked by a pair of smaller individual packages on the belt, whereby the machine may be used interchangeably for filling the master container with a predetermined number of said first mentioned individual packages or with a predetermined number of said smaller individual packages.

4. The machine defined by claim 1, in which the rotatable support on which the spouts are mounted is rotatable about a horizontal axis, and the spouts extend longitudinally horizontally from the support and are moved by the rotation of the support into master container receiving position and then to master container filling position.

5. The machine defined by claim 4, in which each spout comprises a stationary duckbill and a movable duckbill pivotally connected to the stationary bill, said movable duckbill being located beneath and spaced from the stationary bill when the spoutaisin master container filling position and being located above and close to the sta- 8 tionary bill when the spout is in position for receiving the master container thereon.

6. The machine defined by claim 1 which includes means for rotating the spout support and means for intermittently locking the support in non-rotatable position.

7. The machine defined by claim 6, in which the means for intermittently locking the spout support in non-rotatable position comprises a lock plate provided with peripherally located notches and an air powered locking pin for engaging the notches successively to hold the support and spouts in predetermined positions.

8. The machine defined by claim 1, in which the air powered means automatically moving the packages successively in the charging chamber to the inlet end of a spout include a contour plate which is concave on its package-contacting surface and shaped to prevent formation of vacuum which tends to hinder free release of the packages at the end of the stroke of the plate.

9. The machine defined by claim 1 which includes a sewing head, a conveyor located to receive the filled master container from the pivotally mounted shelf when in upright position, and means moving the conveyor to the sewing head with the open upper end of the master container in position to receive a horizontal row of stitches to close the container.

10. The machine defined by claim 9 which includes a pair of guide belts between which the upper end of the master container is guided to the sewing head.

11. The machine defined by claim 1, in which the charging chamber has a wall adjacent the inlet ends of the spout provided with an opening contoured to register with the inlet end of the spout in filling position and free of surfaces which tend to impede free movement of packages into the spout.

12. A machine for automatically filling a master container with a plurality of previously filled packages which may be regular or irregular in contour, comprising (a) an input conveyor which carries individual packages,

(b) an input cross belt which travels at right angles to the input conveyor, in a lower horizontal plane and at greater speed than the input conveyor, whereby individual packages fall from the input conveyor to the input cross belt and are turned to be substantially aligned longitudinally of the cross belt and spaced from each other,

(c) a charging chamber located adjacent the side of the input cross belt and on a lower horizontal plane, said chamber being dimensioned to receive an individual package or pair of packages on its floor,

(d) means automatically causing the packages to move successively into the charging chamber by pushing them across the input belt and falling into the chamber,

(e) a plurality of spouts having inlet and outlet ends,

(f) a rotated support on which the spouts are mounted and rotated about the axis of the support,

(g) air powered means automatically moving the packages successively in the charging chamber to the inlet end of a spout, said means including a contoured pusher plate having a concave package-contacting face which prevents formation of vacuum tending to hinder release of the packages when the pusher plate is withdrawn,

(h) a master container covering the outlet portion of a spout,

(i) means which push the packages successively into and through a spout and into the master container in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the packages in the charging chamber,

(j) a pivotally mounted shelf adjacent the filled master container,

(k) means which move the filled master container onto the pivotally mounted shelf,

(1) means automatically pivotally moving the shelf and filled master container to upright position,

(m) a sewing head,

(n) means for supporting and moving the upright filled master container to the sewing head, and

(0) a caster-supported frame on which the machine is mounted for easy manual movement on floor or supporting surface.

13. The machine defined by claim 12, in which the means automatically causing the packages to move successively into the charging chamber comprises a pusher plate controlled by a cooperating photo cell and light source blocked by an individual package on the cross belt, and by a pair of spaced apart photo cells and associated light sources both of which are blocked by a pair of smaller individual packages on the cross belt, ,whereby the machine may be used interchangeably for filling the master container with a predetermined number of said first mentioned individual packages or with a predeter mined number of said smaller individual packages.

14. The machine defined by claim 12, in which the rotated support on which the spouts are mounted is rotatable about a horizontal axis, and the spouts extend longitudinally horizontally from the support ,and are moved by the rotation of the support into master container receiving position and then to master container filling position.

15. The machine defined by claim 14, in which each spout comprises a stationary duckbill and a movable duckbill pivotally connected to the stationary bill, said movable bill being located beneath and spaced at its outlet end from the stationary bill when the spout is in master container filling position, and being located above and close to the stationary bill at its outlet end when the spout is in position for receiving the master container thereon.

16. The machine defined by claim 12, which includes means for rotating the spout support and means for intermittently locking the support in non-rotatable position.

17. The machine defined by claim 12, in which the air powered means automatically moving the packages successively in the charging chamber to the inlet end of a spout include a contour plate which is concave on its package-contacting surface and shaped to prevent formation of vacuum which tends to hinder the free release of the packages at the end of the stroke of the plate.

18. The machine defined by claim 12, which includes a sewing head, a conveyor located to receive the filled master container from the pivotally mounted shelf when in upright position, and means moving the conveyor to the sewing head with the open upper end of the master container in position to receive a horizontal row of stitches to close the container.

19. The machine defined by claim 18, which includes a pair of guide belts between which the upper end of BEST AVAlLABLE COPY the master container is guided to the sewing head, a pair of sheaves and idler pulleys on which the belts are trained, and means for rotating the sheaves.

20. A machine for automatically filling a master container with a plurality of previously filled packages which may be regular or irregular in contour, said machine being compact in form, air powered and relatively light in weight and manually portable on casters or rollers, comprising (a) an input conveyor belt on which previously filled packages are carried in longitudinally spaced apart alignment,

(b) a charging chamber adjacent the belt into which the packages are dropped successively,

(c) a plurality of spouts successively movable into filling position,

((1) air powered means for moving packages successively from the charging chamber into a spout, the axis of the spout being at right angles to the direction of movement of the packages in the charging chamber,

(e) air powered means moving packages successively through the spout into a master container on the spout,

(f) a platform adjacent the outlet end of the spout for receiving the filled master container,

(g) a stand-up shelf pivotally mounted adjacent the platform,

(h) air powered means moving the filled container from the platform to the shelf in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the packages through the spout (i) means pivotally moving the stand-up shelf and filled master container to upright position,

(j) a sewing head,

(k) air powered means conveying the filled master container to the sewing head adjacent said plat form, and

(l) a caster or roller supported frame manually movably supporting the machine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,092,786 9/1937 Taylor 53-253 X 3,058,275 10/1962 Horgan 53-124 3,279,147 10/1966 Garapolo 53-252 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner N. ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

